Deforestation of 1500 saplings in the name of cow farm

The cow farm is not operational yet. But it has been revealed that large-scale deforestation has taken place in the name of farms by occupying community forests. It has been found that the said farm has deforested Thingar Salla of 3 community forests of Bhimeshwar Municipality-8 which has the maximum value in the Himalayan region. Locals have said that

firm has occupied 15 hectares of community forest for 15 years without operating a jungle cow farm. Locals said that the farm had extensively cleared the forest after the earthquake. The felling came to light only after more than 200 consumers of the Bhiteri Pakha Community Forest Consumer Committee lodged a complaint about the encroachment of the forest along with the felling of the forest at the Division Forest Office, Dolakha. It is mentioned in the agreement that the farm will be operated in partnership with the local people (PPP model) and only planting grass and using bark in the forest at that time.

Division One has started an investigation after a complaint of deforestation. It has been found that the farm also built the structure in the community forest. Deepak Rimal, Forest Officer of the Divisional Forest Office, who was assigned to the investigation, said that the farm had cleared 1,500 trees of forest. 'So far, six community forest farms have been occupied,' he said, 'in the first phase, work is being done to separate the forest area and the population land, it seems that a large amount of deforestation has taken place in the forest area by using dozers.' He said that it was also found that Thingre Salla was used in large quantities. He said that it is estimated that more than 50,000 cubic feet of wood has been cut. Locals have said that the farm has cut down forests under the guise of government officials, high-ranking officials and politicians. The chairman of the farm is Ramkumar Khadka. The farm is currently being looked after by his son Praveen Khadka. In the agreement with the community forest, there is an agreement that doctors cannot cut grass and forest trees. But it has been revealed that the firm has also cut down large quantities of Khasruka trees, which are used as grass in the Himalayan mountains. Rimal said that it was found that the firm had planted the khasru tree after cutting it.

He said that trees like holmes were also cut. "As we are in the process of investigation, it is a little difficult to say the amount," he said, "it appears that the firm has taken over the community forest and there has been widespread deforestation." According to a source in the forest division, the research officer and the head of the division were pressured to withdraw from the investigation. is A forest official said that the firm has cut down more than 6,000 trees of 1,500 saplings in Bhitteripakaha, Shankhadevi and Setidevi Dadar.

'This is a very large amount, it has been seen that the forest has been destroyed, it has also been found that potatoes have been planted after cutting down the forest,' the official said, 'At first, when the complaint came, we thought it would be normal, but there has been pressure from above not to investigate the farm. After the surveyor's office did not cooperate in measuring the forest land, the work of separating the forest and population areas is currently being done by taking the Amin of the municipality. In 15 years, not a single cow has been reared in the farm. The farm has also made a goat cage out of the felled wood. The official said that the wood may have been illegally smuggled due to deforestation after the earthquake. "At that time, it was easy to transport wood to build a house for the earthquake victims," ​​he said, "We have assumed that the felling happened at that time." In that area, the remains of Thingre Sal are still scattered here and there. A large amount of shares have also been raised to operate the farm. Locals have said that the farm has even given private land in its name by tempting the locals to give them shares in exchange for letting them use the land. At that time, the farm had purchased 200 acres of land at the rate of 8,000 acres. Similarly, it has been revealed that although the local residents gave the farm about 180 ropani of land for use, it was passed in the name of the firm saying that they would give shares. Ramesh Thapa, the victim, said that although the land had been given for the purpose of running the firm, now the land has been passed in the name of the farm. "At that time, the land was given to us by my father for enjoyment," he said, "After my father's death, we found that the land was passed in the name of the farm after the death of my father." But he said that the spare parts were not taken during the tree felling. "We did not think it was necessary to cut down the trees of our own land at that time," he said, "but we did not cut down the trees in the forest land, we took the amount of trees that the locals would get." He said that they are making final preparations for the operation of the farm. He admitted that the temporary structure was built in the community forest during the earthquake.

Kazi Budhathoki, Ward President of Bhimeshwar-8 said that the farm blocks the entry to the community forest where the locals cut grass and leaves the dogs. "During the earthquake, the locals did not get wood to build houses from their own community forest," he said, "but in the forest, trees were felled with dozers and cutting machines." He claimed that wood was also smuggled from the firm. The shareholders and managers have access to the farm, we have seen extensive deforestation under the guise of power," he said. "Even some officials of the community forest have been involved in this work."

After the complaint of deforestation, Division Forest has canceled the agreement made by Bhitteripakha Community Forest with the farm as illegal. According to the Forest Office, they are preparing to cancel the agreement made illegally with 5 more community forests.